Mayor Michael Bloomberg sworn in for third term

Staten Island Advance/Bill LyonsJonathan Lippman, chief judge of the state of New York, administers the mayoral oath of office to Mayor Michael Bloomberg. At the mayor's side are his two daughters, 30-year-old Emma and 26-year-old Georgina, and his longtime companion, Diana Taylor.STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Pressing forward with an idea he first discussed with the Advance a month before he won a third term, Mayor Michael Bloomberg will shake up leadership to try to reinvigorate city government during his third term.

Bloomberg also vowed to make the city more small-business friendly, create a national coalition for immigration reform and continue to make strides in education and crime reduction during his inaugural address at City Hall today.

"Conventional wisdom holds that by a third term, mayors run out of energy and ideas. But we have proved the conventional wisdom wrong time and again, and I promise you, we will do it one more time," the mayor told an audience of about 2,000 in a chilly ceremony in front of City Hall Park.

Bloomberg officially took office at 12:01 a.m. on New Year's Day.

In one of his first acts of his third term, he plans to assign every first deputy commissioner to another agency for three weeks. The deputy commissioners and commissioners are then to make recommendations on how both agencies can be improved. Bloomberg oversaw a similar reassignment of management at his own company, Bloomberg LP, which he said "was an eye-opening experience that launched the company to greater heights."

"We intend to break down the bureaucratic barriers that all too often impede innovation, compromise customer service and cost taxpayers money," the mayor said.

The words were reminiscent of an answer he gave the Advance Editorial Board in October, when asked about how he would avoid the mistakes his predecessors made during their third terms. Bloomberg said he planned to replace about half of the city commissioners to infuse new ideas and vigor.

"I think the mistake they all made was keeping the same commissioners and doing the same thing," he said at the time.

In his address, Bloomberg underscored the need to help small businesses, which have suffered during the economic downturn. He promised to work with the City Council to "transform the relationship between business and government making it possible for entrepreneurs to open their doors more quickly -- and build their futures more successfully.

That's good news for the "regulatory flexibility" bill reintroduced by the Council's Minority Leader James Oddo (R-Mid-Island/Brooklyn) last week. The legislation would require city agencies to prove a new regulation does not place an undue financial burden on small businesses.

The mayor also plans to campaign for immigrant reform the same way he has fought against illegal guns, with a coalition of mayors and other elected leaders across the country.

After spending $102 million to eke out his win, Bloomberg struck a humble tone, calling his third term a "special opportunity" and said his job "is to listen and to lead." He implored his fellow New Yorkers to pull together and help each other -- each inauguration invitation included a card that encouraged attendees to volunteer at organizations in each borough.

His third inauguration was a much more modest affair than the previous two. There was no lavish after-party in the Tweed Courthouse, no big-name celebrity master of ceremonies. In 2006, the event culminated with Liza Minelli singing "New York, New York." Today, the chorus of PS 22 in Graniteville -- which has gained considerable fame of its own -- sent the attendees home with "Run This Town" by Jay-Z and Rihanna.

Jonathan Lippman, chief judge of the state of New York, administered the mayoral oath of office to the 67-year-old Bloomberg. At the mayor's side were his two daughters, 30-year-old Emma and 26-year-old Georgina, and his longtime companion, Diana Taylor.

Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro sat behind him on the dais, along with state Assemblyman Lou Tobacco (R-South Shore), state Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) and Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan.

"I think it's great. I do it all the time," Molinaro said, referring to changes he has made in his own cabinet.

Conspicuously absent were some big names: Gov. David Paterson, former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (who stumped for the mayor prior to the election), Sens. Charles Schumer and Kristen Gillibrand and Rep. Michael McMahon (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn). The Island's two Republican councilmen, Oddo and Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore), also chose to watch at home rather than brave the cold.

During today's ceremony, John Liu, the first Asian-American to win a citywide office, was sworn in as city comptroller, and Bill de Blasio was sworn in as public advocate.